The Latest News

​DESCHUTES COUNTY 9-1-1 ANNOUNCES TEXT-TO-911 SERVICE WILL BEGIN DEC. 12

911: Call if You Can, Text if You Can’tStarting Monday, Dec. 12, people in Deschutes County can text their emergencies to 911.Text-to-911 is a tool for people who may not be able to speak due the nature of their emergency, such as a home invasion robbery or an abusive partner. It will also benefit individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities.“We know calling 911 isn’t always an option,” said Deschutes County 911 Service District Director Steve Reinke. “When a phone call isn’t possible, the Service District’s Text-to-911 service will help people get the assistance they need.”To text Deschutes County 911, users should look for the message icon on their cell phones and enter 911 in the number field of the text message screen. Then, users should type the location and type of emergency in the message field.Important Things to Know About Text-to-911:

Texting to 911 is intended to benefit people who may not be able to speak in an emergency. Remember, “Call if you can, Text if you can’t.”

When texting to 911 for an emergency, the first message should be the location of the emergency (including the city) and the type of emergency help needed (police, fire or medical).

Keep text messages brief and concise; use full words.

Stay with your phone and be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 911 dispatcher.

At this time, 911 can’t accept photos, videos or emojis. Trying to send these will corrupt your emergency text.

You can’t include 911 in a group text or while roaming.

Text-to-911 service isn’t available state-wide. If you send a text to 911 from a wireless carrier or a city or county 911 center without Text-to-911 service, you should receive a message saying text-to-911 service is not available.Reinke emphasized Text-to-911 should only be used when it isn’t possible or safe to communicate with 911 by voice. “We can process an emergency call faster using voice communication but, when a voice call isn’t possible, Text-to-911 will help us help people get the assistance they need.”For additional details about Text-to-911, please visit www.deschutes.org/911 or www.nwtext911.info.

FROM THE CHIEF'S DESK........

Stop and FriskOver the last several of years there have been occasional news stories about Police conducting “Stop and Frisk” actions. I have observed “experts” talk about departments conducting “stop and frisks” and their effects on crime, community relations, etc. I am continually disappointed in the reporting of “Stop and Frisk” because it leaves the impression that “Stop and Frisk” is a police strategy. I thought I might try to do a better job of explaining “Stop and Frisk” here.MYTHSAs I mentioned the first myth of “Stop and Frisk” is that it’s a patrol or crime suppression strategy.The second myth is that the term “stop” is bound to the term “frisk”. Both terms have specific and separate legal definitions and requirements. However, except in rare circumstances, a “frisk” is conducted during a “stop”.FRISKS Let me start with what “Frisks” (also known as “Pat-Downs”) are and why the US Supreme Court makes allowances for them. Frisks are minimal searches of an individual by a police officer. When I say minimal I mean an external patting of the clothing. If a weapon is felt during this patting of the clothing the officer can extend the frisk into a warrantless and more intrusive search to recover the weapon for his protection. This scenario is the very reason the US Supreme Court, in Terry v Ohio, recognized a police officer’s right “to protect themselves by searching an individual for weapons, regardless of whether there is probable cause to arrest the person for a crime.”Although in almost all circumstances where a frisk occurs the person is “stopped” that does not mean that a police officer can automatically conduct a “frisk”! “A frisk must be supported by reasonable suspicion to believe that the individual who has been lawfully stopped is armed and dangerous. Courts have ruled that the presence of danger is suggested by (1) information that a particular person is armed, (2) suspicious bulges in the suspect's clothing, (3) the nature of the suspected criminal activity, and (4) the observation of weapons in the vicinity of a person who has been lawfully stopped.”It is more difficult to justify a frisk of someone dressed in a tight swimsuit than someone bundled up in winter clothing.It should also be noted that suspected illegal items felt during a “frisk” can be removed as well. Additionally, weapons include items that can be used as weapons (like a hammer) are subject to being removed by an officer. Items that are legally possessed, but removed from the person during a frisk, are returned to the subject at the end of the contact if no crime has been committed.STOPSA “stop” is defined in the landmark US Supreme Court decision of Terry v Ohio. The Court noted that a law enforcement officer "may in appropriate circumstances and in an appropriate manner approach a person for the purposes of investigating possible criminal behavior even though there is no probable cause to make an arrest." The Court went on to state that it “recognizes that it may be the essence of good police work to adopt an intermediate response. A brief stop of a suspicious individual, in order to determine his identity or to maintain the status quo momentarily while obtaining more information, may be most reasonable in light of the facts known to the officer at the time.”An officer who sees an individual walking from behind the Grocery Store at 1:00 am, well after closing hour, could justify “stopping” the individual. Unless other facts are developed the “stop” could not extend beyond a reasonable time to investigate the situation. In this situation, the officer may be able to justify a “frisk” of the individual as well.Other Police ContactsNot every contact with a police officer is a “stop”. We refer to these contacts as “mere contact” or “mere conversation”. Getting out of the police car and talking to people in our communities is key to the success of community policing. While working in a minority community most of my patrol career the majority of my contacts were not “stops”.SUMMARYPolice agencies often respond to problem areas with increased presence as a strategy to reduce crime and improve community livability. This strategy that continues to be successful since it is often generated by the community and/or crime analysis. It can lead to an increase in “stops” and some stops will involve a “frisk”. To look at it another way, a “Stop” is a responsibility assigned to police officers to protect communities and a “Frisk” is a right for officers to protect themselves.

FOURTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE IS HERE!! Stop by the BBR Post Office or the BBR Police Department and get your gift tag.Bring a smile to a child this holiday season.... HoHoHo..

​ ​UPCOMING EVENTS

Check back for events.

Black Butte Police Department Installs Drug Drop Off Unit

The Black Butte Ranch Police Department has recently installed a drug drop-off box. The department received the free drop-off box through a grant from CVS Pharmacy's Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program. CVS Pharmacy teamed up with The Partnership at Drugfree.org to donate up to 1,000 drug collection units to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The Black Butte Ranch Police department completed the grant application in early May and received our box last week.

Homeowners are encouraged to drop off excess and unwanted prescriptions, including over-the-counter medications. Items that will be accepted include:-Prescription pills, Ointments or Patches-Vitamins -Over-The-Counter medications-Pet medications

Items that will not be accepted include:-Thermometers-Hydrogen Peroxide-Inhalers-Needles-Lotions or Liquids of any kind-Aerosol Cans

All of the medication collected will be secured by the police department and destroyed by incineration.

2016 SAFE KIDS PRORGAMwas a huge sucess!!

Our 2016 summer Safe Kids Program finished its last class on August 30th. We really had a great group of kids this year and enjoyed meeting each and every one of them! Thank you all for coming out and being apart of the program. We will be back with new classes in July and August 2017. Have a great year!!

2015 SHOP-WITH-A-COP

​The Black Butte Ranch Police Department participated in this years Shop-With-A-Cop, along with several other Deschutes County agencies. It was so much FUN!!

Check out our fb page for more pictures!

NEWS RELEASES

TELEPHONE SCAMNews Release from Deschutes Co. Sheriff's OfficePosted on FlashAlert: October 4th, 2016 2:26 PM​The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has received several calls regarding an automated phone call scam saying the caller is from the Internal Revenue Service and they leave a number to call them back saying it is urgent that you call to avoid prosecution, or an agent will be responding to your house, or a warrant being issued in your name. The automated caller will leave a phone number asking you to call them back.

The IRS does not call you to advise you that an agent will come to your house, or issue a warrant. The IRS does not solicit any money or financial information over the phone. Do not call this number and certainly if you decide to make contact do not give out any personal information or bank information. This call is a scam to take advantage of the public.

I personally have received three of these calls in the last 6 weeks. I have called the number back and there is a male on the line with a foreign accent. He has tried to convince me to give him personal information or an agent will be dispatched to my home, or a warrant for my arrest will be issued over a past IRS tax issue.

The last number that called me showed it was out of Austin Texas. Telephone scammers can make it appear that they are calling from almost anywhere.

If you have any questions call your local IRS office. Do not give out any personal information or bank information to any person calling on the phone.Contact Info:SheriffPIO@deschutes.org

Next BBRPD Board Meeting

WHICH NUMBER DO I USE?

Emergency: 911Non-emergency:541-693-6911

This line connects to the 911 dispatch center and a recording will direct you with options. Press #5 to bypass options and be connected to a dispatcher. They will contact a BBR police officer for you. Use this number for lost dogs, roaming cows, parking violations, loud parties, motorcycles, other Ranch violations.

BBR Police Business Office:541-595-2191

Call the BBRPD business office, Monday-Friday to sign up for a community safety course or put a home on vacation check. If you call after hours, leave a message and your call will be returned the next business day.

DO YOU KNOW THE BLACK BUTTE RANCH RULES & REGULATIONS??

NO SKATEBOARDING

There is no skateboarding allowed on the Ranch. This includes "Long Boards". Visit the Black Butte Ranch website for a list of all the Ranch rules & regulations.

PERSCRIBED BURN IN OUR AREA

Starting Tuesday November 1st, Sisters Ranger District personnel plan to burn handpile units in the Tollgate area and the Forest Road 16/1514 junction area. Planned ignitions of the 4 units (~119 acres total) will continue through the following day.

Big Buck project area due west of Skyline Forest in T16 R9 Secs 11 and 12 (1 unit)

Smoke and flames from these pile units may be visible for a few days following ignitions. Patrols are planned until the piles are declared out. Please forward any questions or concerns to Jeff Crawford.